Posts filed under ‘HCI’

Host: Omar (Mafro)

Discussion:

Don’t forget Sadaqa food bank:http://salamottawaforum.googlepages.com/SO_jan27_1_SFB.mp3
The Sadaqa Food Bank, located on 447 Catherine Street, is in need of your assistance. There are close to 100 families who rely on SFB to supplement their grocery needs on a monthly basis. At this time of the year donations of food and money decrease yet the demands continue to grow.

Please remember the less fortunate amoungst us and give generously in cash or food donations. Remember the following hadeeth:

Ibn `Umar (May Allah bepleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “A Muslim is a brother of (another) Muslim, he neither wrongs him nor does hand him over to one who does him wrong. If anyone fulfills his brother’s needs, Allah will fulfill his needs; if one relieves a Muslim of his troubles, Allah will relieve his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and if anyone covers up a Muslim (his sins), Allah will cover him up (his sins) on the Resurrection Day”. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

For more details regarding how you can help please give us a call at (613) 680-5679 or visit us online at: www.sadaqafoodbankottawa.orgA week with Obama:http://salamottawaforum.googlepages.com/SO_jan27_2_OBAMAw1.mp3
Exactly one week has past since the newly sworn in president of the United States took office. What has happened in that time?
Well, some good, some not so good. First off, and I think something that is rather encouraging is that Obama has issue a letter anchoring his intent to close Guantanamo Bay’s Prison and all other secret CIA prisons. He’s also being called the first president in the 21st century to act like a president in the 21st century. This is likely refering to his use on the “Internets” and “Blackberries” that Bush was trying to tell us all about back when he was president. But we must echo the call of Tariq Ramadan when he said we shouldn’t be naiive in thinking that Obama will be the be all and end all of the ailments of North America and the world. Already we see Obama following suite on unwarented wiretapping. You’ve got to wonder if he’s ok with taking the liberties and rights to confidentiality of his own people, that perhaps the rest of the world shouldn’t let out all their breath in their sighs of relief. Not to mention…http://salamottawaforum.googlepages.com/SO_jan27_3_ContactUs_whisper.mp3

Muslims and Technology: What will the Nortel down fall bring?http://salamottawaforum.googlepages.com/SO_jan27_4_MuslimTech_nasheed.mp3
Ottawa is home to one of the largest tech companies in Canada. Nortel, also the largest privet employer in Ottawa, recently filed for bankruptcy protection, which means there is going to be some difficult times for a lot of disenfranchised employees of the once tech giant. Many of the employees of Nortel are Muslims. Very talented and well educated Muslims who have bothcontributed and gained a treasure trove of intellectual property over the many years that they haveworked with the company. Obviously there is little that will do to help Muslims in particular in this crisis, amongst their peers. But perhaps that is exactly what we should be looking at.
Perhaps we should be asking questions like: what do Muslims do with their knowledge and intellectual property, which they’ve developed throughout their careers? It seems that Muslims, especially in North America, tend to lean heavily towards being employees. They execute the commands and directions of their bosses and employers with little ingenuity, or creative contributions.Are Muslims less educated? Less informed? Or less talented than the rest of the populations? I don’t thinks so. I think it is a lack of motivation and a lack of interest.

Many may say, “Well, it’s in the Hands of Allah what I do.” While that is true, the reality is also that Allah created us with the ability to think, created, invent, manipulate, and he created for us the Earth as a means to propagate and grow. Additionally, Allah and his messenger (peace be upon him) have told us that “Allah loves it, that if one of [us] works on something that [we] perfect it”. And that we must take the proper precautions and then rely on Allah for the rest. And that “the hand that gives is better [in the sight of Allah] than the hand that receives.”So where are Muslims now in terms of their technological contributions?

Hardware and software:
Many of us have already used some form of technology in our Islamic lives. From the basics of using our phones, email, or the internet to share and look up information about Islam and Muslims, to downloading software that reminds us of the prayer times.
Some of us may also be aware of some dedicated hardware that has been around for a number of years and that we see in many of the conferences and bazaars, and some Muslim book shops. For example, there is the line of digital Qur’an pocket players, and readers from Digi Koran. There are over a dozen of these devices ranging from simple yet functional to advanced and complicated. Prices also range from affordable (you get what you pay for) to expensive (high quality). They even have gift-reasonable prices (DVD’s, Children’s toys, etc. for under $20). Some of their products are even cool, like their CQ4H2 IQRAA Color, Featuring a very bright, impossibly thin OLED. Organic Light Emitting Displays, a technology that allows display panels to be very bright and vibrant, yet be paper thin, is not even available in many devices out right now amongst main stream gadgets. And Judging for the specifications of this device, it looks a lot more feature packed than a lot of mp3/mp4 players out there right now (ie. iPod, Zune, Creative Zen, etc). Other products are a bit out there, and interesting, like their talking pen. One thing that is truly impressive is their slogan of “Focus on the Future”. And from the looks of things in their product line, it seems like they are moving in that direction.Integration and utilization:http://salamottawaforum.googlepages.com/SO_jan27_5_MuslimTech_Almaghrib96bs.mp3
Technology doesn’t have to always be entirely invented by Muslims, or marketed by a Muslim company. In many cases all we need to shift ourselves into this century is to utilize some of the technology that is already available and put it to good, productive use.
One company that has impressed me with it’s forward thinking and use of the latest trends in tech and marketing is non-other than our local Almaghrib Institute. They’ve taken some serious steps to making the task of gaining knowledge, easy, available, exciting, interesting, and quite simply put, cool.
From their use of online forums, which are rarely paralleled with such frequency of visitors and contributors, yet are organized and of such high quality that they stand out as an entity on their own. To their advanced use and integration of multi-media in their classes, in their marketing, in their outreach and even in their community work.
Last week, AlMaghrib hosted one of its Ilminars (think: Ilm (knowledge) + seminar) and dedicated it to raising funds for our brothers and sisters in Gaza. By targeting the onlinemasses of Muslims and cooperating with Islamic Relief, they were able to raise close to four times their target of $55,000. In the span of a couple of hours, AlMaghrib along with Islamic Relief were able to raise over $200,000.
The concept is not difficult, or complicated. They simply made use of readily available media and resources to create a functional and captivation interface where people are compelled to visit, return, and contribute. This seems to be the philosophy that AlMagrhib is following in terms of the look and feel of this revolutionary educational institute. And I’m very glad and proud to know that one of our local Organization are on the forefront of moving Islamic education and Muslims into the age of information technology.
Next week insh’Allah Salam Ottawa we will highlight some other Muslim tech products, and insh’Allah talk to some Muslim tech experts, and see what they have to say about all this. But for now, perhaps this tragedy that has befallen the Muslim tech workers of Nortelmay be a stumbling point for some diverse, ingenious, and innovative steps towards new ideas. Ideas that could change the quality of our lives, and the standard of living for all humanity to something a little bit better, insh’Allah.

Muslim World News:

Nasheed:

Yusuf Islam Raises Money For Palestinian Children [The Huffington Post]The United Nations said Yusuf Islam recorded a rendition of the George Harrison song “The Day the World Gets Round,” along with the German bassist and former Beatles collaborator Klaus Voorman.
All proceeds from the song will be donated to the U.N. agency in charge of Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, and to the nonprofit group Save the Children to be directed to aiding Gaza residents.

Hosts: Ahmed Khalil + Omar (Mafro)

Dua:

Discussion:

Interview: We spoke with community activist, and winner the Order of Canada Award Mr. Azhar Ali Khan about what he has done throughout his career, and his opinion on the state of Muslims in Ottawa.[Interview with Azhar Ali khan| mp3 | Box.net]
An article in the Muslim Link [January 2009/Muharram 1430 | Page 4 | 6MB PDF] talks about Br. Azhar and the work he is doing right now.

Jewish editor sacked for publishing article
This article was sent to Debbie Ducro, a Jewish-American journalist with the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle. She published it, and was fired the next day. This article highlights the internal struggle in the Jewish community and the threats posed to Jews who chose to speak against and criticize the current actions of the Israeli Govt.

In Hertzl’s ‘The Jewish State’ the father of Zionism said: “We must investigate and take possession of the new Jewish country by means of every modern expedient.” I guess I agree with Ehud Barak ( 3 June 1998) when he said, “If I were a Palestinian, I’d also join a terror group.” I’d go a step further perhaps. Rather than throwing little stones in desperation, I’d hurdle a boulder.

Community News:

Muslim Link launches French articles: So please support one of the longest running Muslim Newspapers in eastern Canada. [Muslim Link]

Global News:

Israeli occupying forces to pull out of Gaza in time for Barak Obama’s inauguration. Seems like Jon Stewart’s assessment was right on target.

Last week we reported on the Free Gaza Movement’s ship to Gaza with medical aid. Well, not unlike the savages that they are, the Israeli occupying forces prevented the ship from docking in Gaza. [Report]

Hosts: Ahmed (SoloTunes) and Omar (GreenKufi)

Qur’an

Discussion

The Month of Muharram
The Prophet Mohammed may the peace and blesings of Allah be upon him encouraged his ummah to fast on this day. Abu Qataadah may Allah be pleased with him narrates that the Prophet may the peace and blesings of Allah be upon him was asked regarding the fast of the day of Aashoorah. The Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam replied: “It is a compensation for the (minor) sins of the past year”. (Muslim Vol.1 Page 368)
NOTE:- It must be borne in mind that wherever a promise of forgiveness of sins is made upon the fulfillment of some action, it is only the minor sins that are forgiven. The major sins are not forgiven without true, sincere tawbah (repentance).

One should also observe the fast of the 9th of Muharram to safeguard his deed from resembling the non-muslims who fast and festivate only on the 10th Muharram. Ibne Abbas may Allah be pleased with him said: When Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam observed the fast of the day of Aashoorah and ordered (his Companions) to fast, they said, “O Rasulullah! It is a day revered by the Jews and Christians.” Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, “The coming year, if Allah wills, we will fast on the ninth (also)”. (Muslim Vol.1
Page 359)

Israel’s Attacks Against Palestine: A Case of Terrorism and Planned Mass Murder
The attacks that have killed hundreds of civilians were intended to target civilians. It is a simple and obvious case of terrorism.

As you will note from the HCI outreach campaign [Besieged Gaza Strip HCI |Word Document], we are doing our best to help the civilian victims of the current crisis in Gaza. We have already channelled $100,000 and a massive medical aid package worth 1.8 million dollars is on its way to Gaza.

Nasheed

International Muslim News

Israel Rejects Truce, Continues With Gaza Terrorism and Murder: An estimated 300 or more Israeli airstrikes against Gaza Strip targets since Saturday have killed more than 360 Palestinians in a campaign meant to undercut Hamas and repress its ability to fire rockets into Israeli territory. Four Israelis have died from dozens of rockets fired by Hamas over the last four days. Israeli military officials said Monday that their target lists have expanded to include the vast support network that the Hamas relies on to stay in power in Gaza. The choice of targets suggests that Israel intends to weaken all the various facets of Hamas rather than just its armed wing. This includes many aide and extensive social services networks Hamas has established to make life a little bit more tollerable for the people of Gaza. “Anything affiliated with Hamas is a legitimate target,” says an Israeli defense spokeswoman.

The territory’s uniformed police have taken major hits, with several police compounds destroyed. The police force is tasked with keeping peace and order internally, not attacking Israel. But the Israeli military has said the police are fair game because they are armed members of Hamas’s security structure.

It seems as though the targetting of innocent civilians is not accidental. According to a former Adviser to Israel’s security service the approach of targetin g civilians to encite hatred towards their elected government is intentional and was planned. “Hamas’s civilian infrastructure is a very, very sensitive target. If you want to put pressure on them, this is how,” said Matti Steinberg, a former top adviser to Israel’s domestic security service.
Israel has not allowed foreign reporters into Gaza since the operation began Saturday.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas blames Hamas for triggering Israel’s deadly raids on Gaza, by not extending a six-month truce with the Jewish state. He also blamed Hamas, which controls the coastal Gaza Strip territory, for disrupting national unity talks that could have paved the way for general and presidential elections. [sources: washingtonpost | AlJazeera]

Pakistan urges new India dialogue: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also urged India to move some troops and air bases away from joint border areas to send a “positive signal”.
India blames Pakistan-based militants for the attacks in Mumbai that left more than 170 people dead. Yet, Delhi denies making any significant troop movements towards the border.

In other Pakistani news, Pakistan suspended supplies through the Khyber Pass to US and Nato forces in neighbouring Afghanistan as security forces launch a major offensive against suspected pro-Taliban fighters. Pakistan has sent tanks, helicopter gunships and artillery units into the region of Jamrud.

Hasina wins by landslide in Bangladesh:
Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will return to power after her Secular Party posted a landslide win in national elections today.

Omar Abdullah set to be the new Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister: It seems certain that Omar Abdullah of the National Conference will be the new chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. All set to become the youngest Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah favours the continuation of the peace process in the state.